This is your guide to motorcycle travel in the Peak District.

The Snake Pass. This infamous strip of tarmac has been included in more “Best Roads in the World” lists than anything else British. Ride it from Ladybower Reservoir in the east to Glossop over to the west. This way you'll be riding the River Ashop's valley up onto the moor and using your engine braking to control speed more than your brakes. From Ladybower, a few smart straights lead up to the turning to Rowlee Farm and the beginning of a tight and undulating section that takes you through farmland and a wood to the Snake Pass Inn. Solid white lines cover maybe 30 per-cent of the route, and they can continue down straights where overtakes are possible. Don't pass on them, though, as unmarked police vehicles will happily pull you over for a chat at the next lay-by.

After the Snake Pass Inn, the road dares you to ride faster as it ushers you along through forest, a tight valley and finally out onto the moor. Keep wide lines and cover your brake through this section as it's not always easy to see what's around the next bend. Watch out for walkers, especially at the top of the pass where the Pennine Way crosses the road. Cyclists may ride two abreast, and the road surface is far from perfect after a frost-bitten winter. The descent into Glossop is a glorious succession of well-marked open sweeping corners down the moorside. It's short enough to warrant turning back and riding this final section again. The Snake Pass: easily on the shortlist for best biking road in Britain.

More delicious corners can be found on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton. Riding from Macclesfield, make sure you enjoy the section moments after the Saltersford / Wildboarclough junction. A downward right-left S-bend meets you over the rise with middle-distance dry-stone walling completing the picture. You can accelerate through the right-hander but be careful when taking the left – there's a hidden farm entry right after it. Now you have a gloriously open view of your next corner and the 200 metres of road succeeding it. If there's nothing coming, consider barrelling into it at a good lick. If you want to scuff up both sides of your rear tyre, the view going back the other way is equally as reassuring.

Buxton sits deep in the middle of  the national park. You're never more than an hour's ride from the place unless that's a Honda Super Cub you're rocking. The town centre is surprisingly green, and an easy place to wander around. Make sure you visit the ornate Opera House that's situated on the edge of the central gardens. You can park the bike for free in a small motorcycle-only bay just outside the Old Hall Hotel. From here, pass the Crescent and walk up Terrace Rd if you're looking for eateries.

Nearly every road out of here boasts great views, but avoid the A515 south. It's straight and dull until Newhaven. The A5004, on the other hand, runs north and nestles itself into the east side of Goyt Valley. There are some fantastic corners that make it particularly suited to motorcycle travel. Bearing to the right after Goyt's Lane, open corners and a tight left through a copse of trees lead to what I call a clothes-hanger bend: two long straights connected by one lip-smacking constant-radius corner.

Take your classic bike on the Peak's smaller roads in high summer. Laid-back power delivery and soft-with-age suspension will flatter uneven surfaces and let you gaze at the Peak's picture-ready panoramas. The round route to Edale from Castleton has popular sections so try it on a weekday. Ride west out of Castleton and follow signs to Blue John Cavern. Give space to cyclists on the long uphill section of Winnats Pass: they have a tendency to wander when out of breath. Turn right at the top of the climb, follow the road round, past the bus park and turn off right for Edale. Now the road tightens and climbs the side of Rushup Edge until a high-walled crest brings you over into the next valley. Mam Tor rises to your right as you begin the descent and the road wanders amiably along to the River Noe. Want to test your classic on a steeper climb? The ascent from Crowdecote east to the A515 might have the old girl struggling to pull you.

http://www.motorcycle-diaries.com/en/roads/a57-snake-pass-ladybower-reservoir-glossop

http://www.motorcycle-diaries.com/en/roads/mortimer-rd-ladybower-reservoir-midhopestones

Words and Pictures: Ben Lee